TAKE IT FROM MY BARBER

The First Clinton-Trump Debate

2016-09-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Clinton-Trump debate the other night reminds me of our debating

days in San Beda College (Mendiola) Manila, Philippines. Lessons on

Principles of Logic and Argumentation and Debate were very helpful

tools as I faced the challenges of professional life - be it as a lawyer,

business executive, or other fields of endeavor.

Argumentum Contra Factum Non Valet Illatio. (Arguing against facts is an invalid inference).

This does not require further explanation. The objective is to search

for the Truth. Once the facts are determined and asserted, no party

should be able to argue against it. Contradicting the facts would be a

falsehood defying the rules of Logic.

Americans are currently witnessing a widespread array of “untruths” or

“lies” mostly perpetrated by the Republican Presidential Nominee

Donald Trump. Getting away with it during the primaries, he is now

expecting to succeed in spreading the same lies in the general

election against Clinton.

The application of this principle is reinforced by the use of FACT-CHECKING.

Ab esse ad posse valet illatio. (From existence to possibility is a

valid inference).

Clinton applied this principle effectively at her first debate with Trump.

Many (Democrats and Republicans) have been exerting efforts for the

release of Trump’s Tax Returns. But the latter refused to allow its

release because he is supposedly being audited.

In the debate, Clinton asserted that Trump is hiding something. She

asserted the following:

“First, maybe he's not as rich as he says he is.” (Is he

really worth 10 billion dollars?)

“Second, maybe he’s not as charitable as he claims to

be.” (Did he really donate to the poor, hungry and disabled?)

“Third, we don't know all of his business dealings, but

we have been told through investigative reporting that he owes about

$650 million to Wall Street and foreign banks. Or maybe he doesn't

want the American people, all of you watching tonight, to know that

he's paid nothing in federal taxes, because the only years that

anybody's ever seen were a couple of years when he had to turn them

over to state authorities when he was trying to get a casino license,

and they showed he didn't pay any federal income tax.”

For this Trump commented, “That makes me smart.”

Again, as Clinton stated, “So if he's paid zero, that means zero for

troops, zero for vets, zero for schools or health. And I think

probably he's not all that enthusiastic about having the rest of our

country see what the real reasons are, because it must be something

really important, even terrible, that he's trying to hide.

And the financial disclosure statements, they don't give you the tax

rate. They don't give you all the details that tax returns would. And

it just seems to me that this is something that the American people

deserve to see. And I have no reason to believe that he's ever going

to release his tax returns, because there's something he's hiding.”

For tax returns that Trump filed and were discovered, they showed that

he did not pay any federal income tax implying that it was a smart

move. For tax returns that are still unreleased, it is very possible

that no or very little taxes were also paid.

“From Existence to Possibility is a valid inference.”

MARCOS ‘ War Time Activities

2016-09-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

Marcos’s wartime activities during World War II can be divided into the following:

1. Alleged Heroic Exploits in Bataan (Period Covering January – April, 1942);

2. Non-Heroic Exploits around the Philippines (Period Covering May, 1942-December, 1944); and

3. Alleged Heroic Exploits in Kiangan, Mt. Province (Period covering January – April, 1945).

Notice that the first period covers only about four months; the last one covers also four months while the middle period where no heroic exploits or no medals awarded to Marcos covers about two and a half years which is most of the wartime period.

Analyzing the events, if you center on MacArthur’s presence, the wartime activities of Marcos can also be divided into the following:

1. Alleged Heroic Exploits while MacArthur was around;

2. Non-Heroic Exploits in the absence of MacArthur; and

3. Alleged Heroic Exploits after the return of MacArthur.

This article focuses on the first period.

The Alleged Heroic Exploits in Bataan while MacArthur was still around.

It was in Bataan where he allegedly earned his first medals. As his drumbeaters led by his hagiographer Hartzell Spence wrote, “Marcos single-handedly delayed the Fall of Bataan temporarily”. In another instance, it was proclaimed that “Marcos delayed the Fall of Bataan by three months”. Later on, the apologists declared that he “considerably” delayed it, and during his 1982 US State Visit, his Ministry of Information settled on the delay as “weeks”.

It was also alleged that MacArthur called him a one-man Army. He allegedly received among others not only a Distinguished Service Cross, a Silver Star and a Purple Heart but he was also recommended for a US Congressional Medal of Honor.

When World War II broke out, the Philippines was still a colony of the United States. The Philippine Army and the fighting guerillas were all under the command of the United States Military. Awards, decorations, back pay benefits, reparation and other claims were reviewed and granted by US military authorities. Any of the former involving World War II is kept in the US military archives. All documents and files supporting any claim or award are stored in pre-designated archives. Decisions on any application for reparations or recognition for back pay benefits are also found in the same archives.

The reporters of the Washington Post and the New York Times, researchers and historians have scoured and meticulously examined the Philippine War records. They found no documentary evidence supporting any of the awards allegedly given to Marcos. John Sharkey of the Washington Post interviewed Philippine and American survivors of the war and looked into the personal files of Marcos at the U.S. military records center in St. Louis, Missouri. He found no evidence to substantiate the claims of Marcos. He also could not find “any independent, outside corroboration” to buttress the claim that Marcos was recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor.

According to US Army rules and as recorded in the files, awardees usually receive a letter from the GHQ of the appropriate command such as USIP, USAFFEE, SWAP, AFWESPAC, etc; and general orders that contain the details of the citation.

When asked about the absence of any authentic documentation, then Marcos’ Minister of Information Cendana came up with a very convenient excuse; “the fire that burned a portion of the military archives in St. Louis, Missouri.”

Colonel Boni Gillego who also did extensive research on the issue came up with this response to Cendana’s lame excuse; “It seems that this fire was so selective and discriminating as to destroy only the documents among others that would substantiate Marcos’ claims. Actually, most of the documents in the St. Louis archives had been previously duplicated and dispersed to other archives. In effect, it is not difficult to reconstruct a veteran’s record once certain details such as date of birth and serial number are furnished.”

Gillego went further by citing some examples. One is the case of Sgt. Ambrosio Lappay of Angadena, Isabela - an unsung but genuine, not counterfeit, war hero. There exists on record G.O., dated March 13, 1942, issued by USAFFE Headquarters awarding him for “extraordinary heroism in action in the vicinity of Trail No. 7 and the Pilar-Bagac Road, Bataan, Philippines on 17 February 1942.” He also noted that the order was issued less than a month after the performance.

Another example mentioned by Gillego is the case of our ace Captain Jesus Villamor (after whom the Villamor Air Base was named). He received his Distinguish Service Cross Medal per G.O. No. 48, USAFFE Headquarters, dated 21 December 1942 for engaging Japanese zero fighters in aerial combat on the 10^th and 12^th of December 1941. It was General MacArthur himself who pinned the DSC Medal on Villamor.

Marcos allegedly received a letter from Major J.A. Marshall, Assistant Adjutant General, USFIP acknowledging the validity of his claim. To verify the assertion in the letter, Sharkey requested the Department of the Army for confirmation. The reply to Sharkey was that “search of USFIP special and general orders has found nothing conveying an award to Marcos.”

As Sharkey was doing his research, he also found two official lists of some 120 Americans and Filipinos who were awarded the DSC during the Bataan campaign. One list was transmitted to the War Department in Washington, D.C. by General Jonathan M. Wainwright on April 12 shortly before his surrender. The other, “List of Recipients of Awards and Decorations issued between December 7, 1941 through June 30, 1945,” was compiled by General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters in Tokyo after the end of the war.

The name of Ambrosio Lappay appears in both lists. The name of Ferdinand E. Marcos does not. Strange!

Marcos’ Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo authored the books, “I Saw the Fall of the Philippines” (Garden City, Double Day, 1946) and “I Walked With Heroes” (Holt, Rinehart and Winston of Canada, 1961). There was no mention of Marcos in either of the books. The heroes that Romulo walked with did not include Marcos.

In Romulo’s broadcast, “The Voice of Freedom”, the exploits of heroes in Corregidor and Bataan were told. Survivors said Marcos was never mentioned. Yet this man was depicted by his hagiographers as one who singlehandedly delayed the fall of Bataan by three months.

William Manchester, author of “American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur, 1880-1964 (New York: Dell Publishing Co., 1978) never mentioned Marcos despite citing Romulo as one of his sources.

Paraphrasing Boni Gillego; “To borrow Churchill’s felicitous phrase, Marcos’ award for his Bataan exploits is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.”

Regarding the alleged statement of MacArthur that “Marcos was a one man Army”, no confirmation could be found in the General’s own “Reminiscences” (New York: McGraw Hill, 1964).

Lastly, Marcos claimed that he was recommended for a U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor ala Sergeant York of World War I and Audie Murphy of World War II. General Wainwright allegedly gave instructions by phone to General Capinpin to write the letter of recommendation. The letter was supposedly lost during the confusing transfer from Bataan to Corregidor.

Like the others no authentic document supporting the claim could be found. Marcos had the chance to confirm the instructions and recommendation from General Wainwright and General Capinpin, respectively when they were still alive. As Gillego asserted, it was not done because it was untrue. Expectedly, no U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor was ever awarded.

MESSAGE – LNMB vs. MARCOS

2016-09-15T19:01:00.000-07:00

(Read at the Philippine Embassy Rally on September 7, 2016)

Tina M. Maynigo

We speak as former refugees from the Marcos dictatorship. My father, Raul Manglapus, founded the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) to influence the US government to withdraw support for the Marcos dictatorship. Manglapus found it hard to change the US policy toward Marcos because the prevailing political, military, industrial, complex were hesitant to disappoint a supposed war hero. Because of this perception, Manglapus organized a committee led by Colonel Bonifacio Gillego and Dr. Gaston Ortigas to research the truth about Marcos.

They discovered the following:

1. his medals were fake;

2. he was a fake hero, his war exploits were all fabricated;

3. his Maharlika claims were adjudged to be false and criminal;

4. his regime committed human rights violations and atrocities; and

5. Marcos and his cronies plundered the country.

During this same period, both the New York Times and the Washington Post conducted the same investigation of Marcos and his fake medals and reached the same conclusion.

The 1986 Edsa people power revolution ousted Marcos from office. He was removed as President and Commander in Chief by a sovereign act of the people. This sovereign act is a higher act than an act by a military tribunal or a civilian tribunal. It cannot be questioned because once a revolution succeeds, then it becomes legitimate and valid. The 1987 constitution is based on the edsa revolt.

You cannot change that act without invalidating the constitution.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regulation states that if you are a medal of valor awardee while you are in the military and after you retire you join the government and while in government you are dishonorably discharged for an offense, you are no longer qualified to be buried in the Libingan ny mga Bayani (LNMB)

Marcos was not a medal of valor awardee. His medals were fake. He is not a hero, And he was ousted from office by a sovereign act of the people. AFP regulations clearly disqualify him from being buried in LNMB.

Our stand is based on facts not emotion. We oppose the Marcos Burial at LIbingan ng mga Bayani!

Dreaming...Hoping...Living...Fighting...Succeeding

2016-08-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

Below is An article that I wrote six years ago (August 31, 2010). I thought that my new Facebook friends and relatives might be interested in reading it.

Dreaming…Hoping…Living…Fighting…Succeeding

August 28, 1963 was the day I first set foot on U.S. soil. I arrived in San Francisco, California together with a plane full of teenagers coming from Asia. We were designated as “Ambassadors of Goodwill”. I was one of the American Field Service (AFS) International Scholars selected from several countries. We first assembled at the beautiful campus of Stanford University and then we were dispersed all over the United States to live with American families and to study our senior year of high school. We were commissioned to learn the American culture, customs and traditions and to impart our own native culture to the local American community we lived in.

August 28, 1963 was also the day that marked the realization of a boyhood dream. As a boy coming from the rural town of Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines who used to walk past the “Hanging Bridge” over the Totonogen Creek daily, I felt triumphant reaching the “Golden Gate Bridge” over the San Francisco Bay, to finally land in the place which Daniel J. Boorstin described “….. a land of dreams. A land where the aspirations of people from countries cluttered with rich, cumbersome, aristocratic, ideological pasts can reach for what once seemed unattainable. Here they have tried to make dreams come true.”

As the Philippine contribution to the evening talent show in Stanford University, I became part of a trio who rendered the song entitled “Maalaala Mo Kaya?” (Do You Remember?). Yes, indeed. I still remember that day and that night. Paraphrasing the words of Filipino poet, Rolando Carbonel, “it was beyond forgetting – part of my dreams, my early hopes, my youth and my ambitions – that in all my tasks I can’t help remembering…”

August 28, 1963 was also the day when about 2800 miles away, at the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his now famous, meaningful and historical speech, “I Have a Dream.” He said, “And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

I arrived in Seal Beach, California the next day to start a year of learning and teaching new ways. I attended Huntington Beach-Marina High School which I understood to be the most modern high school in the United States at that time. A school of no black enrollment, I was one of only two foreign students – the other coming from India. On inquiries regarding the Philippines and India, we both became “call centers”. With John F. Kennedy (JFK) as President, and Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) as Attorney General, it was a year of great inspiration, high achievement motivation, and definitely, of big dreams. JFK spoke of landing on the moon within a few years and exhorting the American people to, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” RFK made famous the words of George Bernard Shaw, “Some people see things as they are and say, why? I dream of things that never were and say, why not?”

It was also a year of turbulence, challenges and excitement. I still remember vividly where I was and what I was doing when JFK was assassinated. It was in a speech class – the class which gave me opportunities and challenges to represent our high school in speech tournaments

Involving original oratory, impromptu and debate. The opportunities won me several 1st place trophies and gold medals, a Philippine Free Press Magazine feature and an interview with the Washington Post. Living in the beautiful beach cities of Southern California in the year of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Rolling Stones in the middle of a sexual revolution, it was an era full of excitement and “Happy Days”. Meeting with Robert F. Kennedy in Washington, D.C. at the end of a yearlong journey was obviously the most exciting and unexpected consequence of a realized boyhood dream.

“I shall leave you now with a heavy heart. But believe me I shall be coming back. When I do, you shall be proud of me,” said my valedictory address. Back in the Philippines and proud as a hometown boy making good in America, I entered college with even bigger dreams. We had to

dream big, for as Johann von Goethe said, “dreaming small dreams has no power to move the hearts of men.” Becoming president of the Student Council, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors and recipient of San Beda’s Abbot’s Award, the highest award on Academic Excellence and Student Leadership, I was luckily recruited to join the Christian Social Movement and became the leader of its youth arm. We called it the Young Christian Socialists of the Philippines (YCSP).

Together with some noble, idealistic, visionary and patriotic men and women, we had a dream: “the creation of a Philippine society based on human dignity, built on justice and dedicated to progress – where every man may develop and fulfill himself according to his ability and in the service of his fellowmen.” We also dreamt of political equality, economic parity and social equity for all.

As Dom Helder Camara said, “When we are dreaming alone, it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.”

Leadership of the said youth group brought me to places like the Vatican successfully advocating for Post-Vatican II church reforms, and to several countries in Europe and Latin America joining other members of the International Union of Young Christian Democrats (IUYCD) in espousing the democratization of Christianity and the Christianization of democracy.

About 7 years (1970) after rendering that song “Do You Remember?” in Stanford campus, I came back to the U.S. as one of the youth delegates to the World Youth Assembly in New York City sponsored by the United Nations. As in 1963, it was also a year of turbulence. The Vietnam War was raging, liberation movements were being born and rapidly growing and the youth worldwide were restless. Outside the assembly was another conference which brought together the revolutionary movements in the United States. Invited as one of the speakers, I met representatives of the Black Panthers Party, the Puerto Rican Young Lords, Women’s Liberation Movement, Gay Liberation, Gray Liberation, Black Community for Self-Defense and many more reform-minded organizations. I made sure to visit the headquarters of the Puerto Rican Young Lords at the Bronx, New York City and that of the Black Panthers Party in Oakland, California before going back to the Philippines.

For many Americans, Martin Luther King’s dream remained as one, and the means to achieve it progressed or retrogressed from peaceful to a more radical aggressive manner.

Another 7 years later (1977), I came back to the United States with my family, as a United Nations-registered political refugee, having fled a country run by a dictator. Disguised as Muslim barter traders, we traveled via kumpit or pump boat, chased by pirates in the high seas and escorted by Muslims armed with sub-machine guns and a Badjao (seaman) navigating a compass-less boat.

Living in the United States was always temporary for me. I never adjusted to permanent residence and citizenship status until many years later despite being qualified much earlier. As we got absorbed by the American way of life, and as we raised our natural born Filipino and American children, our dreams were also “deeply rooted in the American dream.”

Never losing our Filipino cultural identity, and having benefited from the struggles, sacrifices, advocacies and challenges faced by both our Filipino and American forefathers, my family joined the ranks of dual citizens who are very appreciative of what they have achieved and dedicated.

Life is all about dreams. “Dream, dream, dream,” sang the Everly Brothers.

“Dreams are the touchstones of our character”, said Henry David Thoreau. “Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions,” Edgar Cayce also said.

Eleanor Roosevelt told us, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” while Robert Conklin asserted that “Dreams get you into the future and add excitement to the present.”

August 28, 2010 is the 47th year anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech of Martin Luther King, Jr. The latter spoke of his dream, his hope and his faith. Mormon Glenn Beck also spoke of MLK’s dream but focused on restoring honor and faith. Christian preacher Al Sharpton also commemorated MLK’s speech but spoke more of still unfulfilled dreams.

To many others, they echo Edward Kennedy’s words, “The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.”

To Joe Darion, “Dream the impossible dream. Fight the unbeatable foe. Strive with your last ounce of courage, to reach the unreachable star.”

To me, by all means let us all dream. For it is in dreaming that we hope; it is in hoping that we live; it is in living that we fight; and it is in fighting that we succeed.

“All Politics is Local” and Regional

2016-08-21T01:01:00.000-07:00

“All Politics is local”, said former U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neill.

Let me add “regional” the way it is currently played.

As a very interested observant and student of politics in the United

States and the Philippines I was lucky to have actively participated

in presidential and local elections in both countries.

In the United States, the presidential winner seems to be determined

by the results of certain “Swing or Battleground” States like Florida,

Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and a couple of others.

In the U.S. 2012 presidential elections, I correctly predicted the

results with the help of well known statistician Nate Silver’s formula. In

the Philippine presidential elections where my own Law classmate Rod

Duterte was a candidate, I also correctly predicted the victory of

both Duterte as President, and Leni Robredo as Vice President.

Noticeable in the 2016 Philippine presidential elections are the

sources of the votes. Mindanao gave Duterte landslide votes. His

closest opponent Roxas, not surprisingly, was the winner in most of the

major Visayan provinces.

The battle for the Vice Presidency between Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.

(Bongbong) and Leni Robredo is more interesting to note. While Leni

Robredo won, the results were close. Bongbong obtained about 80% or

more of the votes in the Ilocos Region. The latter is known in local

politics as Solid North. In fact, the region produced several Ilocano

presidents since the Philippines became a Republic: Elpidio Quirino,

Ramon Magsaysay, Marcos, Sr., and Fidel Ramos. Although Carlos P.

Garcia is known to have hailed from Bohol, he is considered a

Full-Blooded Ilocano (FBI) because both of his parents are from Abra.

The Ilocano votes of Bongbong Marcos were matched by the Bicolano

votes plus more that Leni Robredo obtained from the Bicol provinces. She

also obtained about 80% or more of the votes in the area. VP

candidates Senators Escudero and Honasan also hail from the

region.There has never been a winning presidential or vice

presidential candidate from Bicol.

While all politics is local and therefore territorial, it is also

ideological in the United States. One must either be a conservative or a

progressive.

This is not so in the Philippines. Major parties are not distinguished

along ideological lines.

I am an Ilocano. That is why a friend was surprised when he found out

during Martial Law that I was an avid critic of Marcos. I explained to

him that being an Ilocano does not necessarily mean pro-any Ilocano

or pro-Marcos. I went on to explain how the battle was drawn using the

political spectrum analysis during Martial Law.

On the extreme left, I said, was Jose Ma. Sison, an Ilocano UP

professor who founded the Kabataang Makabayan (KM), led the Communist

Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.

The Christian Left was led by Ilocano rebel priest Fr. Conrad Balweg ,

a Catholic priest who began his revolutionary career defending the

ancestral land rights of the Tinggians, of Abra Province in the

Cordillera Mountains of Northern Luzon, against government-backed

mining operations. Abandoned by the Church and hunted by the

government, he went underground and joined the Communist Party of the

Philippines/New People's Army. He is the Philippines’ Fr. Camilo

Torres who espoused the Theology of Liberation and a comrade of Latin

America’s Che Guevara.

Left of Center were Raul S. Manglapus and Sonny Alvarez of the

Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP), President and Secretary

General, respectively. The former was an Ex-Senator and Foreign

Affairs Secretary who hailed from Tagudin, Ilocos Sur while the latter

was a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention who came from

Santiago, Isabela.

Of course, on the extreme right was dictator/fascist Ferdinand Marcos

and his Ilocano generals led by his Chief of Staff Ilocano Fabian Ver.

Based on this analysis, I have shown that not all Ilocanos were so bad

that they blindly and solidly supported a dictator who actually robbed

them blind – of their civil rights and their bright future.

MARCOS: To Be or Not To Be @LNMB

2016-08-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

My doctors say that I miraculously survived a stroke. After several

months in the hospital and rehab, I am currently at home to continue

the recuperating process. I intend to resume my Asian Journal column

and Google BlogSpot Blog.

Reading the latest news online, I noticed that the issue of whether

Marcos should be buried at the Libingan Ng Mga Bayani is again

headline news.

The Presidential Legal Counsel claims: “It does not distinguish

whether a president is good, bad, handsome or ugly. If you’re a

president, you’re entitled to be buried there.” He says that as a

soldier it is irrelevant whether he was a “fake” hero with “fake”

medals.

Different opinions are encouraged but they will most likely be ignored.

Here is my legal opinion:

There are two relevant laws: Republic Act No. 289 and AFPR G 161 374.

The former is the statute that provides for the creation of a national

pantheon for Presidents of the Philippines, National Heroes and

Patriots of the country while the latter is the last of a series of

implementing rules relating to the construction, development and

maintenance of the pantheon.

The main reason for the national pantheon’s being is provided in

Section 1 of Republic Act No. 289: “to perpetuate the memory of all

the Presidents of the Philippines, national heroes and patriots for

the inspiration and emulation of this generation and of generation

still unborn.”

In short, to be buried in the hallowed ground are the remains of

Filipino heroes who would serve as “inspiration and emulation” of the generation when the law was enacted, today and most especially those of tomorrow who are yet to be born.

By the very letter of the law alone, given what transpired during his

dictatorial regime and the way he was eventually deposed, it would be

very hard to justify making Marcos as someone to emulate and as a

model to inspire any generation.

AFPR G 161 374 specifically provides who are qualified and who are

disqualified to be interred in the national pantheon. It requires that

they must have the qualifications and none of the disqualifications.

Paragraph 2 of AFPR G 161 374, entitled, Allocation of Cemetery Plots

at the Libingan ng mga Bayani enumerates who are qualified to be

interred in the cemetery. It says, “The remains of the following

deceased persons are qualified and therefore, authorized to be

interred in the Libingan ng mga Bayani:

a. Medal of valor awardees:

b. Presidents or commanders-in-chief AFP;

c. Secretaries of national defense;

d. Chiefs of staff, AFP;

e. General flag officers of the AFP;

f. Active and retired military personnel of the AFP;

g. Veterans of Philippine Revolution 1896, WW1, WW2 and

recognized guerillas;

h Government dignitaries, statesmen, national artists and other

deceased persons whose interment or re-interment has been approved by

the commander-in-chief, Congress or the Secretary of National Defense.

i. Former presidents, secretaries of defense, CSAFP,

generals/flsg officers, dignitaries, statesmen, national artists,

widows of former presidents, secretaries of national defense and chief

of staff are authorized to be interred at the LNMB.”

The Presidential Legal Counsel could be relying on this provision

because clearly and understandably Marcos would qualify as among those

enumerated.

Unfortunately there is another paragraph in the said rules which also

clearly states those who are NOT qualified to be interred in the

Libingan ng mga Bayani. It says, “The remains of the following shall

NOT be interred in the Libingan ng mga Bayani:

a. Personnel who were dishonorably separated/reverted/discharged from the service.

b. Authorized personnel who were convicted by final judgment of

the offense involving moral turpitude.

Read with R.A. 289, mere inclusion in the list is not

sufficient. Anyone in the list must also serve as “inspiration and

emulation” for the current and future generation. So they must not

therefore bring dishonor in any shape or form. That is why the

provision on disqualification was also added.

Marcos cannot be disqualified on the basis of letter “b”. He was never

convicted by final judgment of any offense involving moral turpitude.

Although we can cite several offenses involving moral turpitude

allegedly committed by him, he died before he could be charged, tried

and convicted. There are legal effects or consequences of death. In

this material world, our finite courts cannot acquire criminal

jurisdiction over the soul of the dead. It would be too late for any

measure of personal and material reformation and / or retribution. The Divine courts take over for final judgment.

Letter “a” is another matter. Marcos was President, Dictator and

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He installed himself as such

virtually for life. There is only one way for him to be dishonorably

discharged, separated or deposed – by revolution of the people who as

the sovereign authority had temporarily vested its governmental powers

to him. The EDSA or People Power Revolution of 1986 “dishonorably

discharged” him not only for conduct unbecoming of an officer but most

significantly for killing democracy, for violation of human rights and

a list of other reasons too long to enumerate in this article.

A quick read of the affidavits submitted by human rights victims and

relatives of deceased victims for compensation depict cumulatively not only Crimes Against Humanity but include offenses involving moral turpitude.

MAHARLIKA

The Presidential Legal Counsel mentioned Marcos and his Maharlika outfit. It would be wise to take notice what the U.S. military records show: (See document)

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre vs. Senator Miriam Santiago

2016-05-25T07:47:00.000-07:00

Months before the actual 2016 Presidential elections, I wrote that if my Bedan classmate Rody Duterte becomes president, he would appoint Vitaliano Aguirre as Secretary of Justice. The latter was the Class Valedictorian of San Beda Law Class '71 that included two current Supreme Court Justices, two Court of Appeals Justices and several Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judges.

During the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, one of the private prosecutors was Vit Aguirre. He caught the anger of Senator Santiago when he covered his ears refusing to listen to Santiago's tirade of insults and lectures.

I had the opportunity to discuss the legal battle taking the side of the new Justice Secretary. I am reposting the article for the benefit of those who missed reading it when it was published.

THE RIGHT TO COVER YOUR EARS

My barber called and discussed with me the event that resulted in the covering by private prosecutor Vitaliano Aguirre of his ears.

For several days during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, every time Senator Miriam Santiago spoke, she had the habit of berating, lecturing, and insulting the Congressman-Prosecutors and private prosecutors on national television before the eyes and ears of millions of Filipinos. At one instance, she called them “GAGO (Fools) and “BOBO” (Idiots)).

Atty. Vitaliano Aguirre could no longer tolerate Santiago’s inappropriate conduct fully aware of the provisions of the Canon of Judicial Ethics which he knows the latter violated.

My barber made the following observations:

1. Aguirre was covering his ears to avoid hearing more of Santiago’s insults.

2. Aguirre was not noticed by Santiago because the former was not in the latter’s line of sight.

3. Santiago continued her tirades and finished her annoying remarks without interruption and disturbance.

4. She found out about Aguirre’s action through Senator Jinggoy Estrada who has been observing Aguirre and through Senator Alan Cayatano who video-recorded Aguirre’s move.

5. Aguirre was cited for contempt because according to Senators Pia Cayetano and Miriam Santiago, under Senate Court Rules Aguirre showed disrespect by causing disturbance resulting in interruption to the proceedings.

6. Aguirre was supposedly disrespectful because he refused to listen to more verbal assaults to his dignity but did it without disturbance or interruptions.

7. “What about Estrada and Alan Cayetano?” my barber asked.

While observing people like Aguirre in the captive audience, Estrada was obviously not paying attention to Santiago’s annoying remarks.

While also observing the people in the captive audience, taking out his camera phone, focusing his camera on Aguirre, turning on the video or still camera, and later turning it off, Cayetano was obviously not paying attention to Santiago’s annoying remarks.

Weren’t Estrada and Cayetano disrespectful too? Did Cayetano get Aguirre’s permission to publish his picture or video?

Take it from my barber!

Then my barber again asked, “What about rights? There must be some rights involved here.”

I explained to him that when Aguirre covered his ears, he exercised individual autonomy within the context of Free Speech Rights. The latter consist of the right to speak, the right against compelled speech, the right to listen and the RIGHT AGAINST COMPELLED LISTENING.”

In an article by published by Boston Law Review, Caroline Mala Corbin said, “"Free Speech jurisprudence – which already recognizes the right to speak, the right to listen, and the right against compelled speech – is incomplete without the right against compelled listening. The same values that underlie the other free speech rights also lead to this right. Furthermore, this claim holds true regardless of whether one conceives of the primary purpose of the Free Speech Clause as creating a marketplace of ideas, enhancing participatory democracy, or promoting individual autonomy. “

As examined by Constitutional experts, “the protection afforded to unwilling listeners by the captive audience doctrine, balances private speakers’ right to communicate against listeners’ rights to privacy, equality and individual autonomy.”

Indeed, the protection for captive listeners with the right against compelled listening is grounded in free speech values.

Individual autonomy means each individual in his own world has full autonomous control of his entire body, his brain, his sensual organs, other body parts. He decides what to see and what not see with his eyes. He decides when to pinch his nose if he does not want to smell an odor or figuratively, does not want the “smell” of somebody’s arguments. He can pay attention to other things if a speaker bores him. He can even “cover his ears” if he finds the speaker annoying or insulting.

Indeed, by covering his ears, Aguirre exercised individual autonomy within the context of Free Speech Rights which, in this case, is the Right Against Compelled Listening. He actually had several choices. First, to stand up and object. This would have rudely interrupted Santiago. Besides, he was prohibited from doing it. Second, to stand up and ask permission to leave. This would have rudely interrupted Santiago and definitely be perceived as being discourteous. Third, cover his ears. This would neither cause any disturbance nor interruption. He was also defending his dignity, respect and self-esteem by not being forced to listen to more abusive language.

For being cited for contempt, Aguirre faced a possible fine plus up to ten days in jail. Does he deserve it? What about Santiago’s bad behavior?

Punishing Aguirre would be adding INJURY to a series of INSULTS.

Eight out of ten in the social media favor Aguirre over Santiago. Senator Trillanes in a text message wrote, “A slap on the wrist would suffice.” He would have also stood up and defended himself if he was on the receiving end of Santiago’s scathing remarks.

Former Ambassador and National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) Chairman Roy Seneres , Aguirre’s former classmate at San Beda law school delivered a good point. Aguirre was cited for contempt by the Senate but Santiago was never chided for calling the prosecutors “fools”.

“He and Santiago are in pari delicto (equally at fault). Both committed contemptuous behavior. Aguirre should not be punished unless Santiago is punished also. If the Senate can’t punish Santiago, they should not punish Aguirre either. The entire Senate would be committing a contemptuous act if they punish Aguirre only,” Seneres texted.

The Senate, after its caucus, in a display of good political wisdom and judgment, decided NOT to punish Aguirre.

My barber is a little more hopeful about the Senate and the Philippines!!!

DUTERTE’S DESTINY

2016-05-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

President-Elect Rody Duterte

Mar Roxas was what we call “llamado”. He had all the advantages in the Philippine presidential race.

First, he had greater name recognition – son of the late LP President

and Senator Gerry Roxas, and grandson of the Philippines’ First

Philippine Republic Manuel Roxas;

Second, he was endorsed and supported by the incumbent President

Benigno Aquino III. and the Yellow Army;

Third, he was the standard bearer of the ruling party – the Liberal

Party, which has the political machine and resources controlling

Congress, Provincial, City, and Municipal capitols and the entire

Bureaucracy;

Fourth, he was independently wealthy and supported by clean and business money;

Fifth, he was the incumbent Secretary of Interior and Local

Governments, which gave him access and control over almost every local

political official;

Sixth, he was comparatively the most experienced among the

presidential candidates; and

Seventh, he owned a powerful message, “Daang Matuwid”, which proved to be PNoy’s successful anti-corruption legacy.

Yet, he lost to my Bedan classmate Mayor Rody Duterte in the

presidential competition. Duterte trounced him convincingly with

Duterte garnering 15,956,395 votes and Roxas obtaining 9,696,228 per

reports as I write this column.

Why? Let me contribute the following views:

1. Historically, Filipino voters always preferred the perceived

most “macho” or “superhero” as President. Based on his record as a

strong Mayor of Davao City, Duterte was reputed to be the most

“macho”.

2. While endorsed by PNoy, the Liberal Party, and the Yellow Army

to continue PNoy’s policies, the Filipino people have not felt the

benefits of the economic and “Daang Matuwid” policies. Continuity does

not register to mean socio-economic and political changes to their

lives in the immediate future.

3. Duterte’s message resonated more and was credibly better received

by the Filipino voters. Promising to go after the criminals and hoping

to suppress drug trafficking drove the voters to the polls for

Duterte. This is reinforced by the promise to accomplish the

objectives in the shortest time possible – six months to one year.

4. The prospects for eventual peace in Mindanao seems to be

closest to the hearts and minds of the Muslims and other Mindanao

residents with Duterte voted as President.

5. Even the leftist and other rebels are open to sitting down with

Duterte peacefully and together looking for long-term solutions to the conflicts.

6. Initially disappointed for his decision not to run for

President, I wrote that his withdrawal meant that the Filipino people

were denied an alternative vision for the country’s future as

reflected by Rody’s unwavering commitment to institute radical changes

in our society. A great number of Filipinos like and love what he did

in Davao City and even more wanted him to lead the nation. Hence, the

clamor for him to run for President.

Well, he heard the clamor and the sound was getting louder and louder! His supporters grew in great numbers, and Philippine history is changed forever!

I join others in praying that God blesses President-elect Duterte with

greater health, discernment, courage and wisdom as he provides the

Filipino people a clear vision.

IT’S OVER SENATOR SANDERS!

2016-04-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders should by now be seeing the signs to end an ambitious revolutionary endeavor. He and his supporters have indeed delivered a revolutionary message that resonated among the young and the dissatisfied.

Former U.S. Senator and State Secretary Hillary Clinton and her vaunted political machine felt Sanders’ strong challenge and realized the need to offer as strong a message, raise as much resources, and galvanize greater human efforts.

In the New York Democratic Presidential primary, Clinton showed the way and defeated Sanders decisively in his own birthplace. In fact, more delegates have been added to Clinton’s total – making it harder, if not impossible, for Sanders to catch up.

This is undoubtedly a difficult task, which was originally a revolutionary

vision converted into ambition, then obsession, resulting in

unintended frustration.

This frustration was displayed in the way Sanders’ camp launched negative attacks against Hillary on television and the like.

First, Sanders' deputy, Jeff Weaver accused Clinton on TV of having “a Pact and a Deal with the Devil” by raising and receiving fees and campaign funds from “Corporate America” and “Wall Street”.

Yet, official records show that his campaign received from PACs and employees of publicly listed companies also known as “Corporate America” like APPLE, MICROSOFT, ALPHANET (Google Group), KAISER PERMANENTE and many others.

In Socialized Medicine or Universal Healthcare, will KAISER play a very important and profitable role under a Sanders administration? What will the IT companies do in an ambitious CYBER SECURITY Program under Sanders?

Second, Sanders accused Clinton as “unqualified” to be President. Yet, Clinton is known domestically and internationally as the most experienced and most qualified Presidential candidate in U.S. history.

This was in response to a “false claim” by the Washington Post that Sanders was “unqualified”. In parliamentary parlance, Sanders was “guilty of a deliberate attempt to commit a terminological inexactitude”. Winston Churchill meant this statement to signify “liar”.

Third, Sanders falsely accused famous actor/activist George Clooney, Clinton, and the Democratic National Committee of raising hundreds of thousands dollars solely benefiting Clinton’s campaign at his expense.

However, the reality is the funds were raised to benefit other

Democratic Congressional (Senator, Congressmen) candidates to help the

Democrats regain control of Congress. It also turned out that Sanders signed a similar agreement with the Democratic National Committee (DNC). I see no “PACT with the Devil” on this one.

Fourth, Sanders prides himself in raising his campaign funds directly from small individual contributors giving an average of $27 each. I have been hearing the same amount for 3 months now. While Sanders should deserve some praise for such a feat, he should not forget that according to the records, $45,497,620 of his funds came from large individual contributors.

While Sanders was also giving the impression that his campaign has been receiving a lot of money from his contributors (small and large individuals), the records also show that while in the last report,Sanders raised a total of $138,095,654, Clinton, without fanfareraised a total of $145,412,945. Another relevant data, which was reported and should be known by our readers, is the fact that Clinton

received $28,585,959 from over a million small individual contributors that included me.

The Cash on Hand of Sanders’ Campaign is $17,211,636 while that of Clinton is $74,856,700. While sourcing its funds from small individual contributors, the Sanders campaign certainly spent them as fast.

Yet,Clinton who has accumulated more delegates to date, is showing more Cash on Hand.

Clinton shares many of Sanders’ ideas. In fact, for practical

purposes, these ideas could be implemented phase by phase under a Clinton administration.

For the country, for the Democratic Party, for Clinton, Sanders and the American people, it might be time for all Democrats to unite!

The MFP: “Warriors from Afar”

2016-02-25T19:33:00.000-08:00

The People Power or EDSA Revolution of 1986 is again being celebrated to commemorate the Filipino people’s successful struggle to overthrow the dictatorial regime of Ferdinand Marcos. While homeland oppositionists and rebels were primarily responsible and therefore, mostly credited for the restoration of democracy in the Philippines, the positive role of exiles or “warriors from afar” cannot be denied.

The Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) was a group of exiles that led the efforts to assist in the battle for freedom; to expose the atrocities of the Marcos regime; to convince the U.S. government to reverse its policies supporting the dictatorship; and to eventually help in the overthrow of the dictator.

The leader of MFP was Raul S. Manglapus - a former Senator, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and leader of the Progressives at the 1973 Constitutional Convention. He was Secretary General of the SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization). His friendship with some of the U.S. Congressional and State department leaders helped open some doors in Washington.

I joined the movement after escaping from the Marcos regime in 1976 via kumpit (pump boat) disguised as a Muslim barter trader named Abdul Julkanain. Traveling with my wife Tina, daughter Tanya, cousin Prepedigna Maynigo Bugayong, and Gerry Jumat with his family, Boots Ayson, Lara, and Wally, we were escorted by Muslim soldiers armed with sub-machine guns. The latter fought back pirates in the high seas who were chasing us.

We passed by Zamboanga, Jolo, Tawi-Tawi, Sitangkay, and eventually reached the Island of Sabah, Malaysia where we stayed for 4 months until registered as refugees by the UNHCR and paroled into the United States. This route became the escape trail for other leaders who joined MFP.

While organizing and holding rallies and pickets in front of Congress and the White House pre-occupied us to gain attention, our focus was public information, lobbying, and recruitment of US–based Filipinos to join the cause. This propelled the birth and growth of the Philippine News – the equivalent of La Solidaridad, which was founded by a group led by Jose Rizal and Lopez Jaena in Spain during the Spanish regime in the Philippines. The MFP was dubbed the Propaganda Movement of the period.

MFP’s lobbying efforts concentrated on the following: (1) convince US to withdraw military and economic aid to Marcos; and (2) to get the US to encourage the holding of elections, and the restoration of Philippine democracy and the Filipinos’ bill of rights. US leaders were informed that Marcos: “shut down the Congress and the independent media imprisoning innocent nuns, priests, professionals, journalists, professors, students, labor leaders and political oppositionists; imprisoned and tortured tens of thousands of others whose only offense has been to dissent; caused the killing of lesser known political prisoners; castrated the judiciary; emasculated the labor unions; prostrated the teaching profession; disgraced the vocation of journalism; assaulted the minds of the young; dragged real wages down; caused the transfer of ownership of major industries to relatives and friends; and made Imelda, the most bejeweled and richest first lady.” (Philippine Times, “The Christian Force”, Raul S. Manglapus).

America’s resistance to our lobbying efforts was due to its own military and economic interests. The Cold War with the Soviet Union was still on going. America needed to retain its military bases and needed a reliable ally in Asia like Marcos who “might be a son of a bitch but America’s own S.O.B.”

When Ronald Reagan was Governor of California, he visited the Philippines. He became a close friend of Marcos and was very impressed with Marcos’ alleged heroic war exploits and his corresponding War Medals. This friendship and Marcos’ image as an alleged war hero built the strongest wall of resistance to our lobbying efforts when Reagan became US President.

Author with President Ronald Reagan

Led by Colonel Boni Gillego, MFP decided to focus on proving that Marcos was a fake hero with fake War Medals. Research was done in the Army Archives located at Suitland, Maryland and St. Louis, Missouri. The initial findings of Gillego who also followed the escape trail that we took, were shown to the Washington Post and the New York Times. Both conducted their own separate and independent research verifying Gillego’s findings. The Washington Post and the New York Times did publish their own versions drawing similar conclusions. The Philippine News and the Philippine underground paper Malaya published Gillego’s findings in a series of articles.

MFP President Raul S. Manglapus and wife Pacita with Senator Edward Kennedy

American leaders reevaluated their relationship with Marcos upon learning that he was really a fake war hero. Even worse, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. was later assassinated under the care of Marcos’ guards. The beginning of the end of Marcos’ reign was no longer an “impossible dream”.

The death of Ninoy awakened many fearful and apathetic Filipinos. The movement to restore democracy became stronger and Marcos was forced to call new national elections. The latter pitted Ferdinand Marcos against the widow of Ninoy, Cory Aquino. The former again used what is called the 4 Gs – Goons, Guns, Gold, and Girls. But the yearning for freedom and justice could no longer be denied to a people that Ninoy said to be “worth dying for”.

Observers, monitors, and participating voters and canvassers knew that the Filipinos elected Cory as the new President of the Philippines. But the Marcos-controlled Parliament proclaimed Marcos as the winner. Recognizing this mockery of the electoral process, courageous Filipinos started plotting a peaceful revolution. Then Defense Secretary Juan Ponce Enrile defected to the opposition after learning that Marcos ordered his arrest for plotting the Marcos’ overthrow. The defection coincided with that of General Fidel Ramos.

Jaime Cardinal Sin responded to Enrile’s plea for support by asking Filipinos to converge at EDSA. Cory and the Yellow Army joined and a real peaceful revolution was unleashed. Over a million people gathered and blocked the tanks aimed at Ramos and Enrile’s forces. Meanwhile, more soldiers from the Philippine Air Force, Army, PC, Navy, and other government institutions defected. The MFP and its chapters in the US nationwide concentrated on convincing Embassy and Consular officers to defect. Honolulu was my assignment. Raul Rabe did not need convincing. He already scheduled a Defection Press Conference before I could meet him. The Honolulu Consulate added another nail to Marcos’ coffin as a dictator.

As the world was witnessing the historic People Power Revolution, President Ronald Reagan sent a known close friend Senator Paul Laxalt (R, Nevada) carrying a letter to Marcos telling him it was time to leave.

The rest is history.

*"The MFP: Warriors from Afar", Page 17, Manila Mail, February 16-28, 2016

Bernie Sanders’ Revolution: No BS?

2016-02-25T14:37:00.002-08:00

Bernie Sanders was registered as an Independent all his political life – as a Mayor, Congressman, and Senator.

YET, he wants to be the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee. That would be revolutionary!

*****

Bernie Sanders says he “takes no money from corporations and therefore, not on the take.” Spike Lee in a Radio Ad endorsing Sanders echoes this.

YET, election records show that the PACs or Hybrid PACs of some multibillion-dollar corporations traded on Wall Street are large financial contributors and are working on his behalf. Examples are APPLE Inc., ALPHABET Inc., Microsoft Inc., IBM Corp, EMC Corp, FACEBOOK, Kaiser Permanente, INTEL Corp, etc.

*****

Bernie Sanders criticizes Hillary Clinton that by receiving contributions from Corporate America and Wall Street she would be beholden to them. He accuses her of possibly protecting her donors’ interests and chosen advocacies.

YET, as a self-described Democratic Socialist, Sanders’ alleged Revolution is centered on more government involvement in Education, Healthcare, IT- Cybersecurity, Military Reform, etc. Some corporate contributors to Sanders show the following donations:

EDUCATION

1. University of California $33,598

2. University of Illinois $14,780

3. Columbia University $12,293

4. Rutgers University $11,803

5. Stanford University $ 9,914

6. University of Michigan $ 9,750

7. New York University $ 9,650

HEALTHCARE

1. Kaiser Permanente $15,514

IT – Cybersecurity

1. Alphabet, Inc. (Google group of companies) $98,810

2. Microsoft Corp $31,148

3. Apple Inc. $28,442

4. Amazon.com $18,846

5. IBM Corp $12,293

6. Intel Corp $11,009

7. EMC Corp $10,310

8. Facebook $ 9,857

MILITARY/Government

1. US Navy $15,595

2. US Postal Service $11,126

3. US Air Force $10,369

Does this mean that these contributors would be protected or would have a voice or influence under a Sanders presidency?

*****

Bernie Sanders proposes Socialized Education and Socialized Medicine. This would entail tremendous budget allocation contributing to a much larger deficit.

YET, it is next to impossible for Sanders to get these done. Congress, which is currently controlled by the Republicans, would never accede to them. Promising impractical solutions at this time would only lead to frustration that could have unintended consequences worse than a real Revolution.

*****

Bernie Sanders claims that Clinton’s contributors come mostly from Corporate America and Wall Street as he touts his sources of funds mostly come from individual contributions.

YET, election records show that Clinton raised $108,931,114 from individual contributions while Sanders raised $73,480,185 from individual contributions. In fact, Clinton’s contributors number at least 750,000 small contributors. Sanders raised $19,406,175 from large individual contributions. (As of January 31, 2016)

*****

Bernie Sanders accuses Clinton of copying his revolutionary message.

YET, his advocacy of Democratic Socialism with Socialized Medicine and Socialized Education as banners is actually copied from some countries in Europe like Denmark, Sweden, Norway, etc.

**END**

Clinton’s Path To Victory

2016-02-25T14:30:00.000-08:00

Hillary Clinton is perceived by many as the most qualified and the most ready candidate for President of the United States. I share this opinion and so does President Barack Obama.

In fact, I even preferred her to Obama in the 2008 Democratic Primary elections. I have written a couple of blogs on Hillary’s run for President and getting elected earlier.

The caucus/primary season has just started and so is Hillary’s path to getting nominated and then elected as the first woman President of the United States. The recent Iowa caucuses earned her a first victory. It is a very slim margin (Clinton: 49.9%; Sanders: 49.6%). It was expected to be very close based on surveys but a WIN is still a WIN for Hillary.

The next will be the primary in New Hampshire, which will be held on Tuesday, February 9, 2016. Hillary’s opponent Bernie Sanders is projected by the polls to win in this State – a neighbor of Sanders’ home state of Vermont. The Clinton campaign is determined to be competitive anyway because the delegates will be allocated proportionately. Besides it has already built an organization for an effective and efficient ground.

The coming events on February 20^th and February 27^th (Nevada and South Carolina, respectively) are quite significant. I predict them to signal Hillary’s dominance of the Democratic primary process.

My prediction will be confirmed on March 1, 2016 when the Democratic party will hold what is called “Super Tuesday”. The following States will have their primaries on the same day: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. Except for two or three States, Clinton is projected to win overwhelmingly in most of the States.

Primaries in more States on March 5, 6, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, and 26 will follow this. Clinton is also favored to win in most of these states.

To win the Presidential nomination, one must have 2383 delegates. These delegates are usually pledged and uncommitted arising from the caucuses and primaries, and what they call “Super Delegates. The latter is usually composed of elected officials of the party such as Senators, Governors, Congressmen and pre-designated VIPs of the party.

There are over 700 Super delegates. As of today, the majority of them are already committed to Clinton. Only 2 so far are committed to Sanders. It is expected that some of them will commit to the same candidate that their respective States vote upon during the caucuses/primaries.

MORE (Message, Organization, Resources)

In order to win in this battle for Presidential nomination and election, one must have the right resonating Message. Sanders’ is a Revolution to install “Democratic Socialism”. It advocates more involvement by the Federal Government especially in the area of Healthcare (Universal Single Payer System) and Education. It will be funded by taxes from the middle and upper classes. Many perceive it as “impractical” proposals.

Clinton’s Message is offering a leader of experience and one who gets things done – ready to be Commander-in-Chief from day One. She offers continuity and stability. She seeks to confront the “inequalities” – women, racial, income, etc.

Clinton’s Organization, which has been built and nurtured over the years, has an advantage over that of Sanders. Clinton also has the support of incumbent Democratic leaders. They have their own local precinct level organizations that can be mobilized to deliver the votes.

Clinton and Sanders have the Resources to mount a long national primary campaign. Sanders has been relying on contributions coming from small donors. Clinton sources hers from both small-time and big-time donors.

Resources help finance the delivery of the Message (Ads) and the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization.

Hillary Clinton has the right and resonating Message. She has a very effective and efficient Organization managed by proven political and election experts. She has sufficient Resources to mount a successful campaign.

Most importantly, she has former President Bill Clinton on her side!

EDSA II: Not a Revolution

2016-02-25T14:01:00.000-08:00

On January 17-20, 2001 there was a four-day protest that advocated for the downfall of the government of President Joseph Estrada. The peaceful demonstrations and rallies were held at EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue). Successfully installing Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and supported by leaders of the original EDSA that toppled Marcos, it was dubbed by the Philippine media as EDSA II.

EDSA I was a peaceful revolution that recognized the sovereign power of the Filipino people to effect regime and institutional changes. This is why it was called People Power Revolution. Initially guided by a Freedom Constitution and later on by a duly ratified 1987 Constitution, it was undoubtedly recognized legally and by the international community.

EDSA II was held in exactly the same place and also instituted regime change but was definitely not empowered to institute revolutionary changes. It was not a revolution.

EDSA I was a product of a long struggle by Filipino freedom fighters to overthrow the dictatorial regime of Ferdinand Marcos. Dictators are historically toppled only through revolution or coup d’état. The successful downfall of Marcos was precisely through the peaceful People Power Revolution. It was also an immediate reaction to Marcos’ attempt to reverse the results of the elections that pitted him against CORY, the widow of Ninoy Aquino. Marcos’ term as President had ended and had no legal basis to remain as a dictator. Disregarding the sovereign will of the people in electing CORY was unacceptable. Installing her as President after the successful revolution was a wise and right move.

Legitimate voters duly elected President Joseph Estrada nationally by a landslide. The legal process to oust a President is by impeachment. He was indeed impeached by the House of Representatives and was going through an impeachment trial at the Senate when the so-called EDSA II was launched. 

EDSA II disregarded the constitutional process of impeachment in forcing the resignation of President Joseph Estrada allowing the ascendance of Vice Gloria Arroyo. Under the 1987 Constitution, “the Vice President (or the Vice President-elect) shall assume the Presidency or serve as acting President:

• In case of the death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President, the Vice President shall assume the Presidency.

• If the President-elect fails to qualify for office, the Vice President-elect shall act as president until the President-elect is qualified.

If a President is not chosen, then Vice President shall act as President until a President is chosen and qualified.^”

President Estrada did not die. He had no permanent disability. He was not removed from office. In fact, the impeachment trial was still going on to remove him. He did not actually resign. The Supreme Court just decided that his actions amounted to a virtual or implied resignation.

Most important was the withdrawal of support and defection of General Angelo Reyes, AFP Chief Staff representing the military. The combined forces of the protesters or what the critics called “the mob rule” and the military establishment headed by General Reyes actually amounted to a coup d’état. 

The Supreme Court gave it a democratic and constitutional legitimacy by asserting that President Estrada resigned and could therefore be succeeded by Vice President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

So even by Supreme Court declaration, EDSA II was not a revolution but a regime change through a constitutionally provided due process.

A Christmas Congressional Compromise for Citizens

2015-12-19T17:05:00.002-08:00

As I write this column, Speaker Paul Ryan announced that negotiators would unveil their trillion-dollar government-spending bill. The package is finalized just one day before the deadline to keep the government funded. This will ensure that Congress needs to pass another short-term funding bill to avert a government shutdown.

From the point of view of Ryan, the package is a true compromise stating that there are wins and losses for both parties.

I must say that this is a good sign. It has been a long time coming that the leaders from both sides of the aisle in Washington, D.C. start compromising and thinking of the interests of the American people for a change.

Lawmakers have closely watched the moves of Speaker Ryan since his election as a speaker a little more than a month ago most specifically the massive spending bill.

“Democrats wanted to see how involved they would be in the process while conservative Republicans wanted to see procedural changes in how different factions of the GOP were included.”

The compromise seems to satisfy most of the lawmakers momentarily. He does not think he has tamed his right flank, members of the House Freedom Caucus, however.

He says, "I reject the premise of taming any person."

For the benefit of his GOP constituents, Speaker Paul Ryan told House Republicans on Monday night that the yearlong $1.1 trillion government-funding bill contains policy victories for the GOP, but not as many as lawmakers will want.

Negotiation has been mainly with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for several days on the policy specifics of the massive spending bill, and an accompanying package to extend business-focused tax breaks.

According to press reports, Ryan declined to get into specifics about the bill on the call, but promised he would go through the details of the legislation in a closed party meeting, and would talk to the press about what he considers "wins" in the legislation. For example, Republicans have secured the lifting of a decades-old ban on exporting U.S. oil. But, GOP attempts to insert language into the bill to impose tougher controls on Syrian and Iraqi refugees were unsuccessful.

The expectation is that the omnibus package will get larger support from Democrats this time around. It is certain that some in the GOP will be disappointed. Republicans will likely carry the tax package, however.

It looks like government employees, and even Congress, will have a merrier Christmas this year due to this package!

Appreciating the Refugee Problem

2015-12-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

I understand and appreciate the plight of refugees who are now flooding Europe and other countries. My appreciation comes first, from personal experience; second, as a student of US history; and third, from a substantive knowledge and interest of the necessary and unavoidable effects of wars, conflicts, terror, and oppression.

Personal

I was a refugee – recognized and registered by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees). So was my wife Tina Manglapus Maynigo, my eldest daughter Tanya, and cousin Prepedigna Maynigo Bugayong.

 In the 1970s, we had to escape from the dictatorial regime of Ferdinand Marcos via kumpit (pump boat) traveling to and staying in Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia for about four (4) months. Escaping with us was a Tausog family (Muslim from Sitangkay, Tawi-Tawi Island, Philippines) who was also avoiding political persecution. Gerry Jumat, Boots Ayson Jumat and children Lara and Wally were also refugees.

Disguised as Muslim barter traders and chased by armed pirates, we braved the high seas protected by Muslim soldiers armed with sub-machine guns. Taken care of initially by the Tawau Catholic Church, some Muslim contacts, the Malaysian Home Affairs and the Red Crescent, we were eventually paroled into the US after being officially recognized as UN refugees.

Philippine Refugees – Boat People

The route that we took, the disguise, the contacts, the Malaysian and UN connections became the official trail followed subsequently by noted Filipino refugees who played important roles in the eventual downfall of the Marcos dictatorship. Worth mentioning are Colonel Boni Gillego and Dr. Gasty Ortigas. The former was the person who helped then Senators Ninoy Aquino and Gene Magsaysay expose the “Jabidah Massacre”. He also exposed Marcos as a fake hero and his fake war medals. He eventually became Governor and Congressman upon return from exile.

Dr. Gasty Ortigas became Senator Raul Manglapus’ and the Movement for a Free Philippines’ Executive Director. He also became the President of the well renowned Asian Institute of Management (AIM).

We were the equivalent Philippine refugees of the Indo-Chinese “Boat People” during the period.

American History

Since the pilgrims fled religious persecution, America has been a charitable host to refugees coming to our shores. The refugees have been mostly from around the world. They have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict, and war.

America’s kindness to those in need can be found not just in its citizens’ hearts and minds but also in its commitment by legislative fiat. Let me quote this note on the History of US Refugee Resettlement:

“The U.S. Congress enacted the first refugee legislation in 1948 following the admission of more than 250,000 displaced Europeans from World War II. This legislation provided for the admission of an additional 400,000 displaced Europeans in the coming years. Later laws provided for admission of persons fleeing Communism, largely from China, Hungary, Korea, Poland and Yugoslavia, and in the 1960s, Cubans fleeing Fidel Castro’s regime. Most of these waves of refugees were assisted by American ethnic- and religious-based not-for-profit organizations, which formed the base for today’s vibrant public-private partnership in U.S. refugee resettlement efforts.

“With the fall of Saigon in April of 1975, the U.S. faced the challenge of resettling hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees. As a result, Congress passed The Refugee Act of 1980, which standardized federally supported resettlement services for all refugees admitted to the United States. This Act incorporates the definition of "refugee" used in the U.N. Refugee Convention and provides for regular and emergency admission of refugees of all nationalities. The Refugee Act provided the legal basis for the establishment of The Office of Refugee Resettlement at the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Since 1975, the U.S. has resettled more than three million refugees. Most come from Vietnam or the former Soviet Union, although more than 70 nationalities are represented. Since the enactment of the Refugee Act of 1980, annual admissions figures have ranged from a high of 207,116 in 1980, to a low of 27,100 the year following September 11, 2001. Seventy thousand refugees were admitted in both 2013 and 2014.”

I am proud to having been a refugee, either as a Filipino or as an American. Included in this pride is the knowledge that a number of prominent American citizens were refugees, namely: Albert Einstein and former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright.

As President Barack Obama said, “The ordeals refugees survive and the aspirations they hold resonate with us as Americans. This country was built by people who fled oppression and war, leapt at opportunity, and worked day and night to remake themselves in this new land.”

2015-11-25T16:20:00.001-08:00

My Lettered Thanksgiving: A New Gift of “L” Added

At this stage of my being, I am thankful, grateful, and very appreciative of the gifts bestowed upon me by God Almighty.

I refer especially to the Gifts of Life, Liberty, Love, Luck, Logic, and Laughter. As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, a new Gift of “L” is added. For the first time, I am a “Lolo” (grandfather) and hosting my Grandson LUCA.

SuperLUKA: Up, Up, and Away

LUCA is Italian Filipino American. He is the first and only son of my daughter Dr. Traci Maynigo and spouse Jason Myles Goss. My Grandson LUCA’s name is Italian for “Bringer of Light”. In a relatively dimming world where terrorism, war, criminality, and corruption seem to dominate the Headlines, LUCA’s arrival somehow gives a ray of hope as he “brings Light” and sparks a lot of Love benefiting his Lolo, Lola, and all that surround him.

In Life, I am afforded the opportunity to fulfill my obligations of the past, facing the enormous challenges of the present, and meeting the great responsibilities of the future.

In Liberty, I get to exercise freely and extensively inherent, and all legally bestowed, recognized human and civil rights. I am able to speak, write, read, smell, listen, touch, and use all my senses the way I see and feel fit.

In Love, I can express my innermost feelings up to the bottom of my heart as I appreciate what is beautiful in both the material and spiritual sense. Affection is shared not only with family, friends, followers, and fans but also with neighborhoods and communities. I feel I can move human hearts and human minds. I also feel loved and wanted.

In Luck, we experience the meeting of preparation and opportunity. It is when we feel that it is our destiny because we choose it and strive to achieve it.

In Logic, we behave and act with reason because we are rational beings. We win life-long arguments because we approach them with clear and convincing logic and valid inferences as well as avoiding fallacies and falsehoods.

In Laughter, we show genuine joy and happiness. We share our wit and humor as we help others who feel ill or hurt with this proven and most effective medicine.

I am also thankful for receiving the Gifts of Learning, Language, Literature, Law, Logarithm, and Leadership.

In Learning, everyday that knowledge and/or skill are acquired, power is added exponentially in order to enjoy the other gifts we already possess.

In Language, we communicate and share our thoughts and knowledge to our loved ones and to those in need.

In Literature, we read, absorb, create, and share the experiences, the imagination, innovation, creation and stories of other learned authors.

In Law, we learn them because ignorance is no excuse. We have to know the rules that govern human behavior in a given civilized society. They are there to serve men, not the opposite.

In Logarithm, numbers always illustrate the facts, figures, and real stories with clarity, brevity, and unquestionable accuracy.

In Leadership, we plan, organize, manage and control. In most cases, we become friends, fans, and followers of others because we are their leaders. It is a gift!

There are Gifts that are material in nature but should not be disregarded nevertheless. We should manage and control them: the Gifts of Luxury, Land, Liquidity, and Lust.

In Luxury, we possess and enjoy things beyond our normal needs.

In Land, we occupy them in comfort, build homes on them, and own them as fixed assets.

In Liquidity, we maintain a flow of cash that responds to ordinary, necessary, and emergency expenses that we deal with during the occurrence of unexpected, unavoidable, and unforeseen circumstances.

In Lust, we confront our human tendencies as we resist temptations to human desires and material instincts that have naturally befallen the whole of mankind.

Amidst the L gifts as described above, as important if not more, is celebrating Thanksgiving Day with the “F” Gifts: Family, Friends, Folks, Followers, Fans, and the whole Flock. In celebrating with those from a distance, there is always Face time and Facebook.

 Thanksgiving FIESTA at CASA MAYNIGO!

We do it distinctively and uniquely Filipino – Food, Fun, Festivities and what we call FIESTA.

Probabilities: 2016 Philippine Presidential Predictions

2015-11-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

The 2013 national elections in the Philippines was a gauge of PNoy’s and his “Daang Matuwid” performance. I used the resulting numbers to analyze how it would affect the political climate in the very near future.

“In a previous column/blog, I did an analysis of the results of the 2013 Senatorial Elections. The numbers reflected real votes counted and they amounted to millions. In the battle of coalitions, Team PNoy (Daang Matuwid) clobbered VP Binay’s UNA. There were nine (9) winners belonging to Team PNoy while there were only 3 among UNA candidates.

A deeper analysis of the results in the regions and the bailiwicks of the leaders would give you very interesting results. 

Regions

The Visayans and the Bicolanos delivered 10 winners for Team PNoy and only 2 UNA. The Mindanao provinces including the Muslims delivered 9-3 while NCR and all the Regions north of it delivered 8 – 4.

The Bicolanos made sure that 7 of the 9 UNA candidates led by Estrada and Enrile would not make it to the Magic 12. The Ilonggos and the Cebuanos also made sure that 7 out of 9 UNA candidates led by Estrada and Enrile would not make the winning 12.

What this meant was that the Visayans led by Roxas and Drilon delivered to deserve the 2016 Presidential endorsement and the Senate Presidency, respectively. It also meant that the Bicolanos led by Robredo and LP followers delivered to deserve and reserve the Vice Presidential seat for their region in 2016.

Bailiwicks

In Makati (Binay’s Bailiwick), Team PNoy had 8 winners while UNA only had 4. In fact, Nancy Binay was only No. 3 and Jack Enrile No. 17. In San Juan (Estrada’s Bailiwick), Team PNoy had 8 winners while UNA 4. JV Ejercito Estrada was only No. 2, Nancy Binay No. 14, and Jack Enrile No. 18. In Cagayan (Enrile’s Bailiwick), the results are the same – Team PNoy 8, UNA 4. But Jack Enrile was No. 1, Nancy Binay No.2, JV E. Estrada, No. 8.

In Tarlac (PNoy’s Bailiwick), Team PNoy had 9 winners, UNA 3. In Iloilo (Drilon’s Bailiwick), Team PNoy had 10 winners, UNA only 2. In Capiz, (Roxas’ Bailiwick), Team PNoy had 11 winners, UNA only 1. 

Based on this analysis, there is a desire by the Filipino voters for Daang Matuwid to continue; that a Visayan deserves to be the next President, and someone from Bicol should be Vice President.”

The Certificates of Candidacy filed at COMELEC show the following:

Presidential Candidates: (Major and COMELEC-recognized):

1. Mar Roxas (Region: VISAYAS)

2. Jejomar Binay (Region: Metro Manila)

3. Grace Poe (Region: VISAYAS / Fairfax, Va., USA)

4. Miriam D. Santiago (Region: VISAYAS)

5. Roy Señeres (Region: VISAYAS / Overseas)

6. Augusto Syjuco, Jr. (Region: VISAYAS)

Note: Mayor Rod Duterte of MINDANAO might still change his mind and join the fray.

Vice Presidential Candidates: (Major and COMELEC-recognized):

1. Leni Robredo (Region: BICOL)

2. Gringo Honasan (Region: BICOL)

3. Chiz Escudero (Region: BICOL)

4. Bongbong Marcos (Region: ILOCOS)

5. Alan Cayetano (Region: Metro Manila / BICOL)

6. Antonio Trillanes (Region: BICOL)

PROBABILITIES:

I predicted that the next President would come from the VISAYAS. A careful look at the major presidential candidates show that as of today, there is about .833 (5 out of 6) probability that indeed the next President would come from the VISAYAS.

I also predicted that the next Vice President would come from the BICOL Region. Again, a careful look at the list of major VP candidates, it is also showing that the probability that the next Vice President would come from the BICOL Region is about .833 (5 out of 6).

It is as if the presidential candidates from the VISAYAS and the VP candidates from BICOL read my analysis and predictions, hence, decided that he or she could be the “chosen” one.

There are other parts of the predictions that I made, however. I wrote that the Presidential and VP candidates from the VISAYAS and BICOL regions respectively, must be endorsed and/or anointed by PNoy, continue the “Daang Matuwid” programs, and be the standard bearers of the Liberal Party and its allies.

Mar Roxas who is from the VISAYAS is the anointed one by PNoy to be the next president. Leni Robredo who is from BICOL is the anointed one by PNoy to be the next Vice President.

Roxas and Robredo are lucky beneficiaries of PNoy’s popularity. They are fortunate inheritors of the “Anti-Corruption” and “Daang Matuwid” Message. They are both happy heirs to the formidable and awesome Liberal Party political Machinery, the “Yellow Army”, the informal and personal DILG and government bureaucracy, and hosts of non-government organizations (NGOs), business groups and many other sectors.

Of course, accompanying the Message and Machinery are the Monetary, Material, Manpower and Management resources necessary to efficiently and effectively deliver the Message and mobilize the Machinery.

In 2010, I endorsed and campaigned for the presidential candidacy of PNoy. I did it because I thought he was bringing Hope, Honesty, Humility, and Honor to the presidency. I was not mistaken!

For 2016, PNoy wants to continue the gains made during his presidency and his “Daang Matuwid” programs. He wants the Filipino people to follow his lead by voting for Roxas and Robredo!

LYDIA A. BALLARD: The Master Multi-Tasker

2015-10-28T13:34:00.001-07:00

In the ‘70s and ‘80s, there were significant events worth mentioning both in the Philippines and in the United States. Unbeknownst to many, these events have actually affected the course of both Philippine and U.S. history.

Even more unknown were the roles that patriots played in these events as they portrayed theirs behind the scenes. Invisibly and humbly delivering efficiently and effectively, they were never officially recognized nor rewarded. This tribute is my long-delayed but most heartfelt attempt to honor the contributions of one of them.

LYDIA A. BALLARD was a writer, author, editor, publisher, human resource developer, conference and events planner/organizer, advocate and lobbyist for causes, woman entrepreneur, executive officer for non-profits, administrator, a political propagandist and a PR woman – all rolled into one.

I can say this with absolute certainty and complete honesty because I was a living witness and beneficiary to what she could do and to what she actually did, as she became part and parcel of these historical events.

In the decades mentioned above, Marcos was ruling the Philippines as a dictator with the friendly support of the U.S. government. The abuses of the regime gave birth to the Movement for a Free Philippines (MFP) led by former Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Raul S. Manglapus. Senator Ninoy Aquino, Constitutional Convention Delegate Boni Gillego who exposed the Fake Medals of Marcos, Asian Institute of Management (AIM) President & Dean Gasty Ortigas and many more Filipino patriots living in the U.S. and Canada, later on joined him. MFP is dubbed historically as the 20^th Century Propaganda Movement not unlike the Propaganda Movement of Rizal and Lopez Jaena in the 19^th Century.

Helping behind the scenes was Lydia Ballard who was active in writing position papers and in lobbying the U.S. Congress and the Administration to change its favorable policies towards Marcos. She made sure that the political community in Washington as well as the Filipino-American community in the U.S. was well informed about the Marcos abuses and the wisdom of restoring democracy in the Philippines.

Having worked with and observed Lydia displaying her writing and editing skills as well as her expertise in advocacy and lobbying, I recruited her to be my deputy as I started performing my duties as the first Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC). She was also my deputy when I became the Executive Director of the Asian American Fund concurrently.

President Ronald Reagan called APACC the “fastest growing ethnic business organization in the country”. Although most of the credit has been given to me as Executive Director, and Ronald Hsu as APACC National President, the truth is that Lydia deserved the biggest credit. She ran the office. She planned and organized the national conferences in the different cities. She organized the events and the seminars in those conferences. She wrote most of the articles, edited the newsletters and published them. She issued press releases and articulated our views.

She knew APACC’s goal as she did MFP’s. The latter focused on political freedom. The former was fighting for economic justice on behalf of the socially and economically disadvantaged minorities in the United States. Before our being, there was minimal participation of Asians in the multi-billion dollar minority business development programs of the Federal and State governments.

Then U.S. Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher created a Minority Business Development Advisory Council (MBDAC) chaired by former Secretary of Commerce Maurice Evans to review these programs and come up with new policies. I was lucky to be appointed as a member of the council representing the Asian business community. Most of the programs that we came up with are still in existence today

In APACC's seminars and conferences, Lydia made sure that these minority business policies and programs were made known and taken advantaged of by Filipino entrepreneurs and other Asians.

These programs which included the 8-a program, the small and minority business financing and loan programs, research grants, manufacturing, marketing and minority contracting set-aside opportunities, woman-owned business development programs and many more brought prosperity to a lot of Asian businesses and other minorities as well.  

I remember Lydia and I following up the approval of certain Filipino-owned companies of their 8-a status as well as obtaining their first Federal contracts as a minority.

Only a Master Multi-Tasker like Lydia, coupled with her dedication, compassion, and utmost competence with extra-ordinary skills could possibly accomplish what I described above.

Her contribution to the eventual restoration of democracy in the Philippines was borne out of love for country and nation. She did it without compensation.

Her contribution to rendering economic and social justice to minorities that included Filipino Americans was also borne out of love for country and nation. She did it with minimal compensation.

Lydia was a great gift to all of us from God. For what she did and became, she was as great a gift to God. We will miss her dearly!

Philippine Judiciary vs. UN Opinion

2015-10-23T14:04:00.000-07:00

The so-called discussion on the Opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention bothers me.

First, I still have to see the full text of the Opinion. I searched online, visited the websites of the Office of the Human Rights Council and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and read the Annual Reports and Opinions rendered by the HRC and the Working Group, respectively. I failed to get a copy or the full text of the Opinion anywhere.

Second, it all started when, in a news conference last week, Lorenzo G. Gadon, a lawyer of Mrs. Arroyo, shared an e-mail by international lawyer Amal A. Clooney, who brought Mrs. Arroyo’s case to the UN Working Group for Arbitrary Detention.

The email says in part, “The UN opinion finds that the detention of former President Arroyo was arbitrary and illegal under international law because the Sandiganbayan court failed to take into account her individual circumstances.”

“As a result of the Government’s violations, the Working Group recommended reconsideration of Mrs. Arroyo’s application for bail in accordance with the relevant international human rights standards and to accord Mrs. Arroyo with an enforceable right to compensation,” Amal Clooney also messaged GMA’s lawyer.

The email is obviously self-serving. Amal Clooney was the lawyer who took the case to the UN Working Group on behalf of GMA (Arroyo).   

Third, I expected that Amal Clooney should have at least attached a copy of the Opinion to her email so lawyer Gadon could read it in full and show it to the Press at the conference. It was not done.

Yet, the Philippine Press ate and swallowed the email quotes of Amal Clooney as if they were the actual Opinion of the UN Working Group.

Reactions and reporting were completely based on this self-serving email of Mrs. Clooney. ABS-CBN, I understand, tried to obtain a copy of the Opinion by calling the Secretariat of the UN Working Group but was unsuccessful.

Let's assume that the Opinion says it the way Mrs. Clooney emailed to GMA’s lawyer. The opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is precisely that, an opinion. It does not have the force and effect of law. It is not enforceable and cannot mandate the Philippine Courts to subscribe to its opinion, which admittedly followed in full the opinion of Clooney, who in turn followed in full the opinion of GMA’s lawyer. In short, its opinion is as strong and as persuasive as your opinion and mine. At the end of the day, the Philippine judicial process rules as decisions are made based on facts, evidence, the Constitution, laws, and jurisprudence.

The Working Group was set-up under Human Rights Council resolution 1991/42. The same Council in resolution 1997/50 specifically states, “Deprivation of liberty is NOT arbitrary if it results from a final decision taken by a domestic judicial instance and which is in accordance with domestic law.” In fact, experts of the UN Working Group are advised to consider the independence of the judiciary of the State Party before rendering their opinion. They are required to be discreet and objective.

Sandiganbayan is the same court that detained, tried, and eventually convicted former President Erap Estrada for the similar non-bailable offense of plunder. The judicial process happened under the watch of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who could not impose her will to an independent judiciary.

As opined by Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang, "We have our own judicial process. That has to be observed and the 1st division of the court has precisely observed this process in place. I don't think the court has violated any international law."

"The court has always observed all the processes that are in place in the country. She (GMA) filed a petition for bail that was heard. Evidence was presented. After due evaluation, the court came up with its resolution.”

Tang said the decision would stay unless there is a radical change that can serve as a ground for change in the resolution.  

There is the difference – One is a Court Decision. The other is an Opinion. The former is enforceable while the latter is not. Not even the political branches of the Philippine government – Congress and the President can interfere or influence a judicial decision.

I suspect that the moves of GMA’s lawyers seem to be part of a PR campaign that would justify the granting of bail to GMA by the Supreme Court. After all, the majority of the current SC justices are appointees of former President GMA.  

The question is basically this: “Which should prevail, the Rules of Court as promulgated by the Philippine Supreme Court or the Opinion of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention?”

DAANG MATUWID, ROXAS and ROBREDO

2015-10-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

My last week’s column/blog entitled, “In Aid of Leni Robredo’s Discernment”, tackled each of the concerns of the Congresswoman.

To my surprise, the article generated the second largest readership in the history of my blog per Google BlogSpot’s counter.

One major concern discussed was her low poll ratings or her winnability as indicated in the Pulse Asia and SWS surveys which seem to be accepted as a good indicator of one candidate’s favorability or approval by the voters. This is despite the fact that the numerical data relied upon is not that many (a sampling less than 2000) but scientifically chosen.

I discussed my analysis using the 2013 Official election returns published by the COMELEC. At least in this case, the numerical data used is composed of real number of voters who actually voted and counted as well as amounting to millions.

Based on the analysis, I concluded: “What this meant was that the Visayans led by Roxas and Drilon delivered to deserve the 2016 Presidential endorsement and the Senate Presidency, respectively. It also meant that the Bicolanos led by Robredo and LP followers delivered to deserve and reserve the Vice Presidential seat for their region in 2016.”

 I further opined, “Based on this analysis, there is a desire by the Filipino voters for Daang Matuwid to continue.”

Leni Robredo eventually decided to accept the offer to be Mar Roxas’ VP candidate. I witnessed her proclamation at the Club Filipino via Live Stream. I am uncertain whether my column/blog contributed to her positive response but I am certain that my prayers and those of the readers’ did.

In the Presidential race, it is now shaping up to be a battle between and among Mar Roxas, Grace Poe, Jojo Binay, and probably, Rody Duterte.  

In the Vice Presidential race, it looks like it will be a competition among: Leni Robredo, Chiz Escudero, Gringo Honasan, Antonio Trillanes, Alan Cayetano, and Bongbong Marcos.

Mar Roxas is from the Visayas region (Capiz and Negros Occidental). Grace Poe is also from the Visayas and USA (Iloilo and Fairfax, Va.). Jojo Binay is from Metro Manila (Makati), and Rody Duterte is from Mindanao (Davao) but his roots are from the Visayas (Southern Leyte and Cebu).  

The above-mentioned analysis says that the next President should come from the Visayas. Well, the probability of that happening is very high considering that Roxas, Poe, and even Rody could claim their roots from the Visayas.

The same analysis says that the next Vice President should come from Bicol. Guess what? Robredo, Escudero, Honasan, and Trillanes all come from Bicol. In fact, the wife of Cayetano also come from Bicol. Again, the probability that the next Vice President would come from Bicol is also very high.

The most important part of the analysis is that there is a desire by the Filipino voters to continue the Daang Matuwid principles and programs as espoused by the PNoy Administration.

How would this continuance be guaranteed? That the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates should be those who, according to PNoy, would be in the best position to do it. And they are Mar Roxas for President, and Leni Robredo for Vice President.

Mar Roxas is from the Visayas and anointed by PNoy as Daang Matuwid’s and LP’s standard bearer. Leni Robredo is from Bicol and is also chosen and committed to pursue and implement the Daang Matuwid programs.  

For Daang Matuwid to continue as desired by the Filipino voters, Roxas and Robredo must be elected President and Vice President, respectively.

In Aid of Leni Robredo’s Discernment

2015-09-30T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Liberal Party was set to announce Roxas’ running mate and its Senatorial slate tomorrow, September 30, 2015 as I write this column. But reports say that the announcement has been delayed until Monday, October 5^th.

I understand that Rep. Leni Robredo is still discerning and praying as she decides whether to accept the offer of President Benigno Aquino III, and the LP Presidential standard bearer Mar Roxas to be the Vice Presidential candidate.

Her concerns that needed discernment include the following: apparent objections from her children; her low poll ratings – meaning winnability; her seeming inadequate qualifications to be VP; and although not being mentioned, insufficient resources to fund an efficient and effective national campaign.

Children’s Objections

Aika who studied Management Engineering at Ateneo University is now 28 years old. She is now gainfully employed. Tricia is 21 and studying at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health. She works at the ABS-CBN and the Jesse Robredo Foundation. Jillian is 15 and wants to follow the footsteps of Kris Aquino.

I do not think that their objection is because of their mother’s involvement in politics. She already is. Their father has been in it since their childhood. It is really more because, at this time, it is a bigger stage – more challenges, more involvement, more sacrifices, more commitments, more responsibilities. 

On the other hand, it also presents certain opportunities made available as they contemplate a career path for the present and the future. 

Endowed with love for country and nation, I am certain that they would be willing to share their mother and her God-given talents to the Filipino people at this time of our history. Why? They are their father’s and their mother’s children.  

Low Poll Ratings – Winnability

Numbers tell good stories. Surveys are attractive because they are indicators of a candidate’s standing from the electorate at the time they were taken. So they change in time. What really counts are the actual votes delivered on Election Day, or the most reliable survey if ever, would have to be that taken a few days before.

In most cases, the surveys or statistics as a science is very dependent upon the reliability of the numerical data being analyzed. Scientifically chosen, a group of would-be voters numbering less than 2000 were relied upon by both Pulse Asia and SWS. Yet the results, although mere projections or estimates, seem to be accepted by most including the candidates themselves like Rep. Leni Robredo.  

In a previous column/blog, I did an analysis of the results of the 2013 Senatorial Elections. The numbers reflected real votes counted and they amounted to millions. In the battle of coalitions, Team PNoy (Daang Matuwid) clobbered VP Binay’s UNA. There were nine (9) winners belonging to Team PNoy while there were only 3 among UNA candidates.

A deeper analysis of the results in the regions and the bailiwicks of the leaders would give you very interesting results. 

Regions

Bailiwicks

Based on this analysis, there is a desire by the Filipino voters for Daang Matuwid to continue; that a Visayan deserves to be the next President, and someone from Bicol should be Vice President.

Qualifications

Rep. Leni Robredo humbly thinks that she is not ready to occupy a position as high as Vice President. PNoy, Mar Roxas, the Liberal Party, the Yellow Army, groups from the civil society, netizens and many more think otherwise. Not only does she have the legal qualifications including citizenship and residency, she has the academic and professional preparation and work experiences. She is an economist and lawyer. In fact, she was a human rights lawyer providing free legal assistance to the needy. She worked with NGOs in providing assistance to the poor and the hungry. She assisted her late husband Jesse in becoming a very efficient and effective DILG Secretary and as an Award-Winning Mayor of Naga. Within a short period of time, she had a good record of outstanding achievements as a Congresswoman representing Naga.

Most importantly, Leni embodies Humility, Honesty, Honor, and Hope. Supply creates its own demand. Once Leni becomes known for what she is nationally, the demand would be there. 

Resources

This is the last thing that she should worry about. Running with Mar Roxas and fully supported by PNoy and the Liberal Party and its allies, both will not only have the Message (Daang Matuwid), the Machinery (Precinct level), Manpower (Volunteers and paid employees), and Money, but also competent Management to efficiently and effectively run a winning campaign. 

This is in aid of Leni Robredo’s discernment. It comes with ardent, powerful, and most heartfelt prayers.

Presidential Race: BI RO POe (Binay, Roxas, Poe). No joke!

2015-09-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

The Presidential Race

VP JOJO BINAY

Vice President Jojo Binay is in the race. He became a presidential candidate the moment he took his oath as Vice President. As promoted by the NoyBi (Noynoy-Binay) supporters, he was perceived as a loyal part of the PNoy Team and administration. He was given the luxurious Coconut Palace as his VP office and assigned two Cabinet portfolios (Housing and OFW Concerns). In 2013, he showed his true colors by forming the opposition coalition named UNA together with Senator Juan Enrile and former President Erap Estrada. UNA supported Senatorial and other candidates opposing those of PNoy’s “Daang Matuwid” Team. But he maintained his Cabinet portfolios even after the elections. It was only recently (after 5 years) that he gave them up and started attacking the PNoy administration that he was part of.

After enjoying top presidential preference for about 5 years, he was finally relegated to a lower rung by the voters. This is probably because of the corruption allegations hurled against him at the Senate investigations and those of the Ombudsman. The fact that he is no longer perceived as part of the PNoy Team could also be a factor.

MAR ROXAS

Former Senator and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas is also in the race. In fact, he is PNoy’s anointed and the LP (Liberal Party) standard bearer. He is credited for being the co-pilot of PNoy in conceiving, planning, and implementing the relatively successful “Daang Matuwid” and anti-corruption campaign programs. Of course, he was also considered a partner of the PNoy Team that is credited for the country’s unprecedented economic recovery and growth as recognized by international agencies.

A former Congressman and Senator, a former Trade Secretary under three Presidents, a former Transportation Secretary, and lately, DILG Secretary, he has plenty of record to check - his experience, achievements, and mistakes. His record could then be compared to those of Binay, Poe, and other candidates who may still declare.

His anointment by PNoy was expected as he was indeed according to the President, “in the best position to continue the Daang Matuwid program of government.” The latest SWS survey now shows that he is no. 2 in the race. Another poll shows that he is statistically tied with Poe and Binay.

GRACE POE

Senator Grace Poe is definitely in the race. A former Chairwoman of the MTRCB, she is now a Senator - having topped the 2013 Senatorial elections. She is also the top presidential preference of the voters according to the last surveys. But at the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), losing Senatorial candidate Rizalito David is now questioning her qualifications. It is focused on whether she is a natural-born Filipino citizen by virtue of the fact that she is a “foundling”. I have expressed my legal opinion on this matter previously. I maintained that there were no laws, both local and customary international law, that would support any assertion that a Filipino foundling like Grace Poe could be considered natural-born. 

I listened to the Oral Arguments at the SET. I heard the questions asked and the answers of both the counsels of the petitioner (David), and the respondent (Poe). The questions and the conclusion derived from SET Chairman SC Justice Antonio Carpio was most revealing. He said after a series of questions: “Grace Poe is a naturalized Filipino citizen but NOT a natural-born Filipino.”

Probably to neutralize the impact of such a conclusion, Poe’s lawyer announced that his client had undergone some DNA tests and would release the results soon hoping to prove that Poe is indeed a natural-born Filipino by blood.

Other qualifications

Amidst the existence of certain legal requirements as provided in the Constitution such as Age, Literacy, Residency, and Citizenship, a maturing democracy like the Philippines seems to demand a little more in the choice of the presidency. We have had models that experienced running or helping run a large government bureaucracy. 

Senator Serge Osmena III, a veteran lawmaker, close adviser of Grace Poe and one who helped her in the 2013 Senatorial elections had this to say:

"She would make a better president, if she has six years of vice president, because she’s fairly new in this game. This is not all about national politics and winning the elections. After that, the big work comes, the headache comes, running the country. At nakikita natin, napakahirap noon. If you stumble around, then the whole country stumbles with you”.

Her own cousin, Sheryl Cruz, daughter of Rosemarie Sonora and Ricky Belmonte, also expressed this view: “It’s a bit abrupt for her to run in 2016, and popularity cannot be translated into capability. She’ll make a fine president come 2022.”

Cruz said she did not want to “belittle” her cousin’s capabilities, but neither did she want “to leave the country’s future to chance.”

“The lives of its citizens are not a game of chance,” she added.

Of course, PNoy, Mar Roxas, Butch Abad, and the Liberal Party also wanted her included in their long-term succession program by grooming her to be Vice President first. This is for her to prepare for the Presidency. Hours, nights, dinners, and plenty of discussions and presidential efforts to convince her did not overcome her ambition and the influence of Chiz Escudero who wants to be Vice President.

I even devised and proposed a formula that would guarantee her to be President after Roxas.

She probably thought that if she is that “good”, why wait? Walang Forever!

Presidential POElitics: Real or Reel?

2015-09-16T14:08:00.000-07:00

Now that Grace Poe decided to run for President of the Philippines, she is now what my barber calls, “fair game”, meaning – open for scrutiny. After all, she is seeking the office with awesome powers and correspondingly, with awesome and tremendous responsibilities.

In William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar Act III Scene 2”, I remember reading and hearing two quotes from two excellently delivered oratorical pieces by two famous political animals during the Empirical Rome Era.

First was that of Marcus Brutus as he justified killing Julius Caesar,

“As Caesar loved me, I weep for him;

as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was

valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I

slew him.”

Second was that of Mark Anthony as he defended Julius Caesar,

“When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff”

These words remind me of Grace Poe’s situation as she announced her decision to run for President. Coincidentally, the two quotes apply to her.

As her critics would say, “for she was too ambitious, we now have to ‘slay’ her. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff – meaning, ambition itself does not get a job done. It must be combined with the necessary experience, qualifications, determination, perseverance, and a passion to get the job done well.

Three times she was offered to run for Vice President with ample support and an almost guaranteed Presidency in 2022. Three times she refused. Five to six years of Vice Presidency and running a Cabinet department like DSWD to win the “war against poverty” or DILG to localize and distribute resources and power would have been an effective preparation.

But she thinks that because of her ratings, she deserves the Presidency more than anybody else. Why? Chiz Escudero who wants to be Vice President says so.

My barber watched Grace Poe’s announcement. He tells me that she looked like she was campaigning for President of the UP Student Council. He felt sad. I told him about my slogan when I ran for President of the San Beda College Student Council – “MAyNIGONG BAGONG PAG-ASA.” That of Poe is “MAY BAGONG UMAGA”.

At this point in our history, the Philippines deserves to be more discriminating especially in the choice of Presidency. During PNoy’s tenure we have witnessed unprecedented economic progress recognized by the international community, and an undeniable success in our on-going battle against corruption.

There are things left undone. For the sake of continuity and stability, the people deserve to have someone who shares PNoy’s “Daang Matuwid” Program of Government. They deserve a successor who is the most prepared to continue the programs and one who, like PNoy, would provide the Filipino people Hope, Honor, Honesty, and Humility in government.

The candidates should be scrutinized to the minutest details how their academic preparation and work experiences match with the tremendous duties of being President.

Did her political science degree earned in the U.S. prepare her for the Philippine presidency? Was her three-year experience as a pre-school teacher at Montessori School or employment at the US Geological Survey Company helpful in preparing her to exercise the awesome Executive Powers? Was managing the FPJ Productions and the MTRCB sufficient experience to run a government bureaucracy of about 1.5 million employees?

One must have sufficient knowledge and exposure to the Executive Powers that include: Power of Appointment; Power of Removal: Power of Control; Military Powers; Pardoning Power; Borrowing Power; Diplomatic Power; Budgetary Power; Informing Power; and many other powers granted to the President under the Constitution and by statutes. Does Grace Poe have these?

She has admittedly renounced first, her Philippine citizenship, then, her American citizenship. Does she know that as President she would have Power over Aliens? In fact, the chief executive may have an alien in the Philippines deported from the country after due process. The President may also change the status of a foreigner, as prescribed by law, from a non-immigrant status to a permanent resident status without necessity of visa. Will her husband and children remain as American citizens?

There are six issuances that the President may issue. They are the following as defined in the Administrative Code of 1987: Executive Orders; Administrative Orders; Proclamations; Memorandum Orders; Memorandum Circulars; and General or Special Orders. While style could be provided by experienced civil servants, providing its contents, and knowing when to issue them would be useful.

The lines have been drawn. Binay and Poe chose to be on one side while “Daang Matuwid” is on the right side. The issues will be more defined as the campaign progresses and as the candidates are scrutinized. The people will examine the candidate’s vision: enlightened reality or cinematographic and reel.

We hope to see Pope Francis next week. As we all know he prayed to God Almighty “PNoy and the Filipino people be given plentiful blessings of peace, prosperity, discernment, and wisdom.”

DUTERTE: Dynamic, Daring, Decisive, Dutiful and Devoted Dad of Davao

2015-09-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

My Bedan classmate Mayor Rod Duterte just announced his final decision not to run for President of the Philippines.

It is unfortunate because his withdrawal means the Filipino people are denied an alternative vision for the country’s future as reflected by Rod’s unwavering commitment to institute radical changes in our society. A great number of Filipinos like and love what he did in Davao City and even more want him to lead the nation. Hence, the clamor for him to run for President.

For the radical changes to take effect, he thinks that a Revolutionary Government should be set-up. The truth is, he does not have to run for President to establish what he wishes. If the next administration messes up, be it corrupt or “Daang Baluktot”, Rod could galvanize his more than 3 million followers who signed the petition clamoring for him to run for President. He has a greater and stronger base than Aguinaldo when the latter set up a revolutionary government in 1898. The number of people during the 1986 EDSA revolution was less when Cory Aquino established a revolutionary government. Let it be a warning to these ambitious presidential candidates!

In order to enforce the laws efficiently, effectively, aggressively, and honestly, he had indicated that if he becomes President he would appoint fellow Bedan Vitaliano Aguirre as Secretary of Justice. The latter is the topnotch private prosecutor who covered his ears and defied Senator Miriam Santiago during the impeachment trial of CJ Corona. He is also the Class Valedictorian of San Beda Law Class 71 that included two of the current Supreme Court Justices.

The truth is, he does not have to run for President to get Aguirre appointed as Secretary of Justice. I suggest that in exchange for Rod to support PNoy’s choice (Roxas who is from the South), he should ask that Aguirre replace de Lima (also a Bedan) as DOJ Secretary when she resigns and runs for the Senate. This includes a commitment that Roxas reappoints Aguirre when the former wins. This guarantees continuity coupled with brilliance and incorruptibility.

He also expressed the view that he could cause the death of as many as 100,000 criminals if he becomes President. Admittedly, he actually does not want to kill people.

Of course, we know that one does not have to be President to cause the killing of criminals. Vigilantes and death squads have done it in some urban areas.

Mayor Duterte had already said publicly that he would not endorse VP Binay. I do not believe that he would allow an inexperienced public servant like Grace Poe to run the country with all its problems.

I join others in praying that Mayor Duterte continues to serve the country in some other ways and that God blesses him with greater health, discernment, and wisdom as he provides the Filipino people an alternative vision.

INC Mess: Entangled Rights, Duties, and Interests

2015-09-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

First, there were the RIGHTS: right to liberty and security; right to free speech and to a free press; right to freely exercise one’s religion; and right to peaceful assembly.

Then, there were the DUTIES: duty to enforce the law; duty not to impinge on the rights of others; duty not to inconvenience the public; duty to follow the instructions of church leaders; and duty to report the news relating to the incidents.

And lastly, there were the INTERESTS: public interest; government interests; INC interests; and the politicians’ interests.

In the exercise of free speech, INC Minister Isaias Samson and a blogger with the pseudonym Antonio Ebangelista published certain financial anomalies occurring in the church. Leaders in INC’s Sanggunian (Council) reacted by detaining Samson and his family against their will. The latter countered with a suit before the Department of Justice charging the INC leaders with serious illegal detention – a non-bailable offense.

Upon instructions of the church leaders and also in the exercise of peaceful assembly, INC members converged outside the gates of the DOJ building and later on at EDSA to protest the action of DOJ Secretary de Lima in recognizing the complaint of Samson and his family. They consider it interference in the internal affairs of the INC by the government, and that the principle of separation of church and state has been violated.

Meanwhile, the rally caused tremendous traffic and inconvenience to the public especially on their way home on a Friday. Injuries were also inflicted on at least two journalists covering the event.

INC expected to show force hoping to attract 500,000 demonstrators. The maximum number that showed up was about 20,000. Some groups who want to topple the Aquino presidency were there and were hoping to ride on the event. These “naysaying doom and gloom negativists” were hoping for another People Power courtesy of INC. They were disappointed.

REACTIONS

There were varied reactions to this INC mess. Most prominent were the statements of presidential candidates. As we should know, the next president would be appointing during his tenure at least 11 justices of the Supreme Court – the last bastion for the protection of constitutional rights.

VP Binay: "We cannot fault the INC for resorting to mass action to protect the independence of their church from a clear act of harassment and interference from the administration,"

Senator Grace Poe: “The INC members on the streets are just defending their belief.” Adding, "Nirerespeto natin 'yan at kailangan pangalagaan din ang kanilang karapatan."

Secretary Mar Roxas: "While all citizens have the right to be heard and to peaceful assembly, the exercise of these rights cannot impinge on the rights of others or cause inconvenience to anyone. Lalo na yung mga kababayan nating pauwi sa kanilang mga tahanan para magpahinga at makasama ang kanilang mga pamilya," Adding, “The PNP is duty-bound to ensure that the safety and general welfare of the public is maintained. This includes making sure opportunists do not try to take advantage of the situation for personal ends. Let us remember that ours is a Rule of Law and not of men,"

Mayor Rod Duterte: “Of course I sympathize with her (DOJ Secretary de Lima),” Adding, “Although in the past, we had an exchange of words, those are days of work. She has a duty, I have mine.”

Senator Chiz Escudero: “...it appears to be a purely internal matter...it’s like a family problem, family members should be allowed to settle the issue themselves”

Secretary Leila de Lima: “I am just doing my job.”

My barber and his friends are unanimous. They all think that based on their reactions, Binay and Escudero are, expectedly, “trapo” while Poe proved to be, disappointingly, a modern “traPOE”. All were obviously “sucking up” – pandering to the INC and its block of votes.

SURVEY

In a survey conducted by the Inquirer.net, the readers and net viewers were asked: “Who lost the most in the test of wills on Edsa over the weekend between the government and the Iglesia ni Cristo?”  

As a responder, I was allowed to see the results as shown here: 

1. INC, because its show of force paralyzing Metro Manila, angered many citizens. 38.68%

2. Politicians like Poe, Binay, and Escudero who sought to accommodate the INC position in their statements. 33.15%

3. The government, because its maximum tolerance policy seemed weak and took four days to work. 22%

4. Metro Manila residents, because of the aggravation they suffered over the weekend. 6.17%

The Biggest Losers

Indubitably, INC and politicians like Poe, Binay, and Escudero were the biggest losers. It became a case of which should prevail, the Rule of Law or the Rule of the Mob. Rule of Law because it tests the mantle and will of the government led by Secretary de Lima to enforce the law. Rule of the Mob because of INC’s tendency to disregard legitimate behavior by using its flock and block of voters’ perceived influence.

If Secretary de Lima continues to adhere to the Rule of Law by allowing the judicial process to run its course as she has been consistently doing, she would be a big winner in helping untangle this INC mess.   

If Secretary Roxas reacts similarly as he did in this case uniformly in espousing the “Daang Matuwid” line, he would also be considered a big winner.  

Mayor Duterte who publicly expressed support for Secretary de Lima’s move despite their public disagreement is in fact, a winner!